Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day
Philip Stevens · Public domain · source
Name	Remembrance Day
Caption	Wreath-laying at a cenotaph
Observedby	United Kingdom; Canada; Australia; New Zealand; France; Belgium; South Africa; India; Pakistan; Newfoundland and Labrador; Isle of Man
Significance	Commemoration of the armistice ending the First World War and honoring military casualties
Date	11 November
Scheduling	same day each year
Duration	1 day
Frequency	Annual

Remembrance Day is an annual memorial day observed on 11 November to mark the armistice that ended hostilities in the First World War and to honor armed forces personnel who have died in conflicts. Originating after the 1918 armistice, it has evolved into a set of ceremonies, symbols, and national variations connecting events such as the Armistice of 11 November 1918, the First World War, the Second World War, and subsequent conflicts including the Korean War. Key locations associated with the commemoration include the Cenotaph, Whitehall, the Thiepval Memorial, and the National War Memorial (Canada).

History

The origins trace to the Armistice of 11 November 1918 and the aftermath of the First World War, when societies sought ways to commemorate losses from battles like the Battle of the Somme, the Battle of Passchendaele, and the Battle of Verdun. Early initiatives involved figures such as King George V and institutions like the Royal British Legion and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, influenced by advocates including Edward George Honey and ceremonies at sites like the Menin Gate. Interwar developments involved treaties and conferences including the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations, and remembrance practices adapted during the Second World War with participation from leaders such as Winston Churchill and Charles de Gaulle. Postwar memorialisation incorporated veterans' organisations such as the Returned and Services League of Australia, the Royal Canadian Legion, and the Royal British Legion while international engagement expanded with events like commemorations by the United Nations and commemorative acts at the Australian War Memorial and the New Zealand National War Memorial. Debates over the commemorative date involved politicians including David Lloyd George and institutions like the British Parliament and the Canadian Parliament. Over the late 20th and early 21st centuries, remembrance intersected with memorial architecture by designers such as Sir Edwin Lutyens and conservation by bodies like Historic England.

Observances and ceremonies

Public ceremonies often include wreath-laying, two-minute silences, and parades involving entities such as the British Armed Forces, the Canadian Armed Forces, the Australian Defence Force, and the New Zealand Defence Force. Royal participation has included Elizabeth II and members of the British Royal Family, while civic participation has featured officials from the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the Governor General of Canada, the Prime Minister of Australia, and mayors from cities like London, Ottawa, Canberra, and Wellington. Music and liturgy at services draw on works by composers like Edward Elgar and hymns used in services at cathedrals such as Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral. Ceremonial protocol involves veterans from organisations including the Royal British Legion, the Royal Canadian Legion, the Returned Services League of Australia, and the South African Legion. International commemorations have taken place at battlefields administered by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and memorials such as the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, the Australian War Memorial, and the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. Educational involvement has included schools such as Eton College and universities including Oxford University and McGill University holding services.

Symbols and commemorative practices

Common symbols include the red poppy inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae, leading to production by organisations such as the Royal British Legion and the British Legion Poppy Factory and distribution by the Royal Canadian Legion. Other symbols and practices involve cenotaphs designed by architects like Sir Edwin Lutyens, memorial columns such as the Cenotaph, Whitehall, the use of oil lamps at memorials like the Tower of London, and the maintenance of graves by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Floral tributes reference battles including the Gallipoli Campaign and the Battle of Jutland. Musical standards include the playing of The Last Post and hymns performed by choirs from institutions such as King's College, Cambridge and military bands from regiments like the Grenadier Guards and the Royal Australian Regiment. Civic rituals include the two-minute silence promoted by figures such as Sir Percy Fitzpatrick and ceremonies linking to anniversaries like the Dunkirk evacuation and national days observed by countries including Belgium and France.

National and regional variations

Different states and territories have adapted observance: in the United Kingdom the main national service is at the Cenotaph, Whitehall, while in Canada the primary event is at the National War Memorial (Canada) in Ottawa with participation from the Governor General of Canada and the Prime Minister of Canada. In Australia and New Zealand the day intersects with Anzac Day traditions and commemorations at the Australian War Memorial and the Auckland War Memorial Museum. In Belgium and France ceremonies occur at sites like the Menin Gate in Ypres and the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Former colonies and dominions including India and South Africa hold ceremonies involving national armed forces such as the Indian Army and the South African National Defence Force. Subnational observances occur in regions like Newfoundland and Labrador with its own legislative history and in the Isle of Man with local civic organisations. Variations also reflect historical legacies from events like the Irish War of Independence and the Balkan Wars, influencing commemorative choices in places such as Ireland and Greece.

Cultural impact and representation

Remembrance ceremonies have inspired literature, film, sculpture, and visual arts, featuring authors like Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, and Rupert Brooke, filmmakers such as Christopher Nolan and Peter Weir, and sculptors like Charles Sargeant Jagger. Works referencing remembrance include poems such as "Dulce et Decorum Est", novels by Ernest Hemingway and Pat Barker, and films depicting battles like the Battle of the Somme footage and adaptations of the Gallipoli campaign. Museums and exhibitions by institutions like the Imperial War Museum, the Canadian War Museum, and the Australian War Memorial curate artefacts from campaigns including the Western Front and the North African Campaign. Commemorative debates have engaged historians such as Max Hastings and Margaret MacMillan and influenced popular culture via memorial designs used by architects like Sir Edwin Lutyens and artists represented in national galleries including the Tate Modern and the National Gallery of Canada. Awards and recognitions connected to remembrance themes include honours like the Victoria Cross and scholarly prizes in military history administered by universities such as Cambridge University and institutions like the Imperial War Museum.

Category:Military commemorations